22 Months

Last year about this time I can remember thinking the same thing, I almost have a 2 (1) year old!  Time has flown by and quickly our little baby is a little boy and developing a fierce independence.  Everything, I mean everything, must be done by him or done to make him think it is on his terms.  If not, watch the furry of tears, madness, and possibly a tantrum. 

Thomas is all adventure at this point.   I am finding it harder to capture all that he is about as it changes and involves so much these days.  He still loves running, jumping, climbing, throwing, crashing and anything else that means physical activity.  The boy has energy like I have never seen and I still try to steal some of it on a daily basis.  

What has really changed in the last few weeks is his expressive language.   He is adding words by the day and is able to put short phrases and sentences together.   With this new found language no situation in our house is safe from Thomas retelling it.  He is also really good at telling on one of the pets or his mommy or daddy if he is upset about something, little stinker!  Mike and I continue to understand him best, but he is getting more clear words and others are understanding more and more. 

Thomas loves watching his signing time video and enjoying a warm chocolate, playing with his trucks, playing hockey/soccer and on his train table with Daddy.  His daddy is his best buddy and he waits for him to come home from work nightly.  As soon as Mike walks in the door all we hear until bedtime is “dada play,” “dada choo choo” or “dada no mama.” 

His tummy seems like a bottomless pit that we can’t keep full.  Cheese, veggies and citrus fruits are his favorites.  Yet, there isn’t much he won’t eat at this point.  He is sleeping from 8 or 9 until 7 or 8 and is still taking a nap (1.5-3 hours) during the afternoon.

His awareness of poop and pee is also a brand new adventure for us.  I am equally as excited as I am terrified of this!  He has had many successful potty experiences and will tell us now if he needs to pee or poo.   He really doesn’t like having a wet/soiled diaper and it has in fact been waking him up at night.  A few times in the night we will hear “pee, pee, diaper.”  Thankfully, as soon as he knows we are changing him he is back to sleeping and all is well in the house.  We will see if we continue on this path or if we take a step or two back.   It is still a little early and ambitious to see the light at the end of the diaper tunnel for him, I think?!

On his way to the rink…

Thomas and Daddy spent the morning at the rink.  Mike said this time he was more interested in skating fast with daddy and watching the zamboni.

When he got home all he could talk about was skating and how the zamboni made new ice with “hot wawa.” 

I just love this picture, I can feel the excitement on his face when I look at it.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

At bedtime we have been reading books, singing, saying our prayers and then saying goodnight.  Our new favorite night time song is head, shoulders, knees, and toes.   I thought this video was too cute to not share, and a rare occasion as he doesn’t like to perform when being filmed!

Seattle’s Snowpocolypse

Over the weekend many areas of Seattle saw snow, yet at our house we remained snow free.  Then on Tuesday big snowflakes started to fall.  Mike’s office sent everyone home just after noon and by the time he got home there were a few inches to play in.   Thomas immediately wanted his “boots, hat” and “mih-ens” on.  

It snowed a little more on Wednesday and by Thursday it was freezing rain.  Although there was not too much snow at our house, many places in the Seattle area had much more.  Thus making it difficult to drive on the steep hills and narrow roads.  Both Mike and I were warned about this and kept to our neighborhood for a few days. 

On Thursday morning while it was raining  Thomas and I made an inside “(s)nowman.”  He loved using the glue and sticking everything on.  When we were finished he couldn’t wait to go show Mike his creation.

We also joined the others in the neighborhood who were out snow shoing, sliding, and skiing.  Thomas made about 4 runs down the sidewalk before he was ready for some “warm chak chak” (hot chocolate.)

We were very thankful to make it through our 3 days of snow, rain and non stop weather coverage on local channels.   Many people lost their power we were also lucky to keep ours throughout the storm.

Weekend Work

We have been busy putting any extra time in our day to heading downstairs to “work” on the basement bedroom.   With our normal life and entertaining ourselves and our kiddo, this bedroom seems never ending! 

Outside of the basement, Friday night we had a couple friends over for fondue. Thomas has fallen head over heals for his buddy Max and Amy.   Mike and I also enjoy having a couple new friends to hang out with and change it up. Sunday we watched the Packers game with a picnic in the living room and were bummed out when they lost. Then we made our first round of noodles with our new noodle maker.  They were yummy and my arms were only moderately tired from kneading the dough.  We used the noodles to make fettuccini alfredo it was yummy and oh so not good for you!

Over the past 2 weekends we were able to tape, mud, sand, prime and paint the basement room.  We have now started the trim work and and then need to finish the closet.  After that we will have the electrician back over to finish the outlets, lighting, and heat.  Finally we will add carpet and stuff!   Only a few more weeks until it will be done.

Thomas Skating

This is Thomas’ 3rd time skating and he loves it.   He thinks he is pretty cool, and so do we, when he is walking on his skates.  Now he just needs to get a little stronger and keep practicing!

These videos still make me giggle.

The first he is pulling Mike to try to get on the ice.

This one is of him “shuffling” his feet to skate.

Finally, walking after skating and feeling so proud!

Play date with Max

Thomas and I met Max and his Mom, Andrea, at our weekly play group.  We saw how well our boys played together and decided to try out a play date together. 

We started off at Barnes and Noble’s train table and then headed into the mall to the play area.  The boys had a blast and so did their mom’s!   Can’t wait for our next play date!

Thomas Wall Art

Thomas was nice enough to paint a few pictures for our hallway.  A few frames from Ikea and a 21 month old with paint and voila two unique pictures to decorate our house. 

New Style

Along with Thomas’ new found independence he has also found  his own style.  He has 3 shirts with “Ha-tee” (hockey) pictures and those are requested when available.

Another big hit are his train PJs that he got from his Great Grandma Gen. If we are able to convince him into a different pajama set he will still request trains to wear the next day. As you can see in this picture he has the PJs he wore to bed on under the beloved train jammies.  Mike and I also think that he looks pretty cute!

Tonight when I was putting away his clothes, he picked out the following outfit.  A flannel shirt, t-shirt to go over that, his Carhartt pants and a tie!  Such fashion sense!

Lastly, he has been very into the difference between “Mama” and “Dada” stuff.  He will walk around the house and point out the things that are either mine or Mike’s.  It can vary from our shoes and clothes to our water glass and toiletries.  The best is his new love for wearing one of each of our shoes…he thinks he is pretty funny when he walks around the house like this!

New Years Eve

We celebrated the end of 2011 and the  beginning of 2012 with a great dinner at home and a sparkling grape juice toast in front of the tree.  We also set up the camera to take pictures 10 in a row and have some pretty cute, funny and nice family pictures to remember this year!   Anyone care that it was at 8 p.m. Pacific Time then Thomas went to bed and it was time for Mike and I to celebrate.  

This is my favorite picture, while Mike and I were stealing a kiss, Thomas was celebrating himself!

Our celebration consisted of making a giant pot of chicken stock and watching episodes of Dexter!  We did turn on the delayed broadcast of New York’s celebration and then shared a kiss with our first born, Stella, who was snuggling in between us, as the fireworks were making her nervous!

Mike started off 2012 by running 13 miles and making Thomas and I breakfast when he returned.  We then spent the day working on our house and with a trip to our home away from home, Home Depot!